Israel supporters slam Harvard’s appointment of controversial NY Times columnist Nicholas Kristof’s wife

Harvard has named the wife of controversial New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof to one of the university’s top leadership posts — sparking backlash from pro-Israel critics who accused both the Ivy League school and the Gray Lady of amplifying anti-Israel narratives amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

Sheryl WuDunn, a journo who jointly won a Pulitzer with hubby Kristoff, was named last week as vice chair of the executive committee of Harvard’s Board of Overseers, the university’s second-highest governing body, according to the Harvard Crimson.

The appointment triggered online backlash from supporters of Israel still furious over Kristof’s explosive May 11 op-ed that alleged widespread Israeli abuse of Palestinian detainees, a piece experts blasted as distorted.

WuDunn’s elevation at Harvard quickly became swept up in that controversy.

“Harvard’s antisemitism problem isn’t getting better. It’s getting promoted into leadership,” media personality Samantha Ettus wrote in a viral X post criticizing the appointment.

“She is married to blood libelist Nicholas Kristof,” Ettus added.

Another X user wrote that “Harvard has learned nothing,” while others called on lawmakersto “defund Harvard” over what they described as the school’s handling of antisemitism concerns.

One commenter questioned “what experience” WuDunn brought to the role “besides being ‘Half of Nick Kristof’s Sky,’” sarcastically referring to the couple’s bestselling book “Half the Sky.”

Asked for comment on the backlash to WuDunn’s appointment, the Times pointed to a previous statement it issued in defense of Kristof’s column.

The Post has sought comment from WuDunn, Kristof and Harvard.

Kristof’s column published earlier this month alleged that Palestinian men, women and children had suffered widespread sexual abuse at the hands of Israeli prison guards.

The scribe also cited allegations that guards beat detainees’ genitals, threatened prisoners and their family members with rape and used dogs in acts of sexual abuse against prisoners.

The Israeli prison service told the Times it “categorically rejects the allegations” of sexual abuse, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced accusations of sexual violence against Israel as “baseless.”

The column triggered furious condemnation from Israeli officials and pro-Israel commentators, with Netanyahu threatening legal action against the Times and accusing the paper of promoting a modern-day “blood libel.”

WuDunn defended her husband amid the furor, writing in a post on X that “rigorous reporting — especially when it is careful, meticulous, and courageous — often draws personal attacks from those uncomfortable with the facts.”

The appointment came in the wake of accusations Harvard failed to crack down on antisemitism following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack and the ensuing war in Gaza — a controversy that fueled congressional investigations, donor revolts and leadership turmoil at the university.

WuDunn and Kristof have long been one of journalism’s highest-profile power couples.

The duo shared the 1990 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for coverage of China’s pro-democracy movement and the Tiananmen Square crackdown, becoming the first married couple to jointly win the highest honor in journalism.

WuDunn later worked as a New York Times executive, investment banker at Goldman Sachs and business consultant.

The post Israel supporters slam Harvard’s appointment of controversial NY Times columnist Nicholas Kristof’s wife appeared first on New York Post.